APA Citation
Block, F. (1999). Weetzie Bat. New York, NY: HarperCollins ISBN: 0064408183
Award
2005 Margaret A. Edwards Award
Summary Weetzie Bat is a book that starts with an outcast teenager and how she deals with being unique in the world she lives. The book deals with several different types of love which many teenagers have a hard time dealing with. It also deals with her friendship with her best friend Dirk who happens to be gay. The author blends all this together to make unique and interesting characters dealing with issues that relate to many teens.
Critique
I liked the book but I will admit it was a bit out of my usual reading zone. I think that it could appeal to teens in a creative way. Students will also probably like it because it is a quick and short read that appeal to their adolescent emotions.
Curriculum Connection
KY.6.R.F.SC.4 Students will use a variety of reading strategies to understand vocabulary and texts:
o formulate questions to guide reading (before, during and after reading)
o apply word recognition strategies to determine pronunciations or meanings of words in passages
o apply knowledge of synonyms, antonyms, homonyms/homophones, differences in meaning, or simple analogies to assist comprehension
o interpret and explain literal and non-literal meanings of words or phrases, based on context
o identify syllables and parts of words (e.g., prefixes, suffixes, base words, common roots) and apply their meanings to comprehend unfamiliar words
o describe words in terms of categories (e.g., water is a liquid), functions (e.g.,water is for drinking), or features (e.g., water flows)
o scan to find specific key information (e.g., dates, places); skim to get the general meaning of a passage
Genre YA Fiction
Classroom Activity Using Developing Content Area Literacy #15 Jots and Doodles
Before: Teacher will project portion of text with document camera. The teacher will read aloud and model how to take notes with the Jots and Doodles method. This includes writing down questions, unfamiliar words, and doodling pictures. The teacher then gives the students another portion of text to read silently and to do the Jots and Doodles method on their own.
During: Students read Weetzie Bat silently using the Jots and Doodles method. Encourage students to note when the characters in the book are going outside what would be considered normal or use language that is unfamiliar. Promote the doodling as way to generate imagery from the imaginative text that the author has produced.
After: Students share their Jots and Doodles with a partner/group. Have students compare their interpretations and discuss any differences they may have about the text. The teacher then leads a debriefing and asks students to share their work and how it helped them understand the text. Teachers also answer questions that have not been addressed by referring back to the text for further explanation. At the end of the activity, new words are put on the word wall and the teacher asks the students to reflect on the activity in order to improve it for future uses.
Block, F. (1999). Weetzie Bat. New York, NY: HarperCollins ISBN: 0064408183
Award
2005 Margaret A. Edwards Award
Summary
Weetzie Bat is a book that starts with an outcast teenager and how she deals with being unique in the world she lives. The book deals with several different types of love which many teenagers have a hard time dealing with. It also deals with her friendship with her best friend Dirk who happens to be gay. The author blends all this together to make unique and interesting characters dealing with issues that relate to many teens.
Critique
I liked the book but I will admit it was a bit out of my usual reading zone. I think that it could appeal to teens in a creative way. Students will also probably like it because it is a quick and short read that appeal to their adolescent emotions.
Curriculum Connection
KY.6.R.F.SC.4 Students will use a variety of reading strategies to understand vocabulary and texts:
o formulate questions to guide reading (before, during and after reading)
o apply word recognition strategies to determine pronunciations or meanings of words in passages
o apply knowledge of synonyms, antonyms, homonyms/homophones, differences in meaning, or simple analogies to assist comprehension
o interpret and explain literal and non-literal meanings of words or phrases, based on context
o identify syllables and parts of words (e.g., prefixes, suffixes, base words, common roots) and apply their meanings to comprehend unfamiliar words
o describe words in terms of categories (e.g., water is a liquid), functions (e.g.,water is for drinking), or features (e.g., water flows)
o scan to find specific key information (e.g., dates, places); skim to get the general meaning of a passage
Genre
YA Fiction
Classroom Activity Using Developing Content Area Literacy
#15 Jots and Doodles
Before: Teacher will project portion of text with document camera. The teacher will read aloud and model how to take notes with the Jots and Doodles method. This includes writing down questions, unfamiliar words, and doodling pictures. The teacher then gives the students another portion of text to read silently and to do the Jots and Doodles method on their own.
During: Students read Weetzie Bat silently using the Jots and Doodles method. Encourage students to note when the characters in the book are going outside what would be considered normal or use language that is unfamiliar. Promote the doodling as way to generate imagery from the imaginative text that the author has produced.
After: Students share their Jots and Doodles with a partner/group. Have students compare their interpretations and discuss any differences they may have about the text. The teacher then leads a debriefing and asks students to share their work and how it helped them understand the text. Teachers also answer questions that have not been addressed by referring back to the text for further explanation. At the end of the activity, new words are put on the word wall and the teacher asks the students to reflect on the activity in order to improve it for future uses.